The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-05-11
mGrant. Thomas. Lee. -

General Sherman in North American Review
In Macmillan's Magazine for March, 1887,
published in London and New York, ap-
pears a most interesting article of ten
pages from the pen of General Lord Wolse-
ley, which concludes with the following
paragraph:
"When all the angry feelings reused by
secession are buried with those which ex-
listed when the Declaration of Independence
was written, when Americans can review
the history of their last great rebellion
with calm impartiality, 1 believe all will
admit that General Lee lowered far above
all men on either side of that struggle. 1
believe he will be regarded, not only as the
most prominent figure of the Confederaoy,
but as the great American of the nine
teenth century, whose statue is well worthy
to stand on an equal pedestal with that Of
Washington, and whose memory is equally
worthy TO be enshrined in the hearts of his
countrymen."
England has so long been accustomed to
shape and mold the public opinion of our
race, that her authors, critics and officials
seem TO forget that times are changing, have
changed. The United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland contained in 1880 only
$4,000, 600 Of inhabitants, with an area of
III 81 square miles; whereas the United
States of America had sc, 900, 900 of people,
with 3,602, 800 square miles of territory.
Great Britain is crowded, whereas in our vast
interior there still remains land enough
for 800, 600, 600 of inhabitants. ALI of
these are taught the English language,
believe in the Bible, Shakespeare, Milton,
Walter Scott, Dickens, Thackeray and Ten
nyson; all read English magazines, period
icals and newspapers, and have way of
thinking for themselves. They have had
twenty-ore years for thought and reflection
since the smoke and confusion of battle
Obscured the horizon. and have settled
down to the conclusion that Abraham
Lincoln was the great civil hero of the
war, and that Ulysses S. Grant was the
chief military hero.
All that is good in the character of Gen.
eral Robert E. Lee is ours, and we will
cherish it, and we will be charitable to his
weaknesses; but so long as the public rec
ord tells Us of u. S. Grant and Georgl n.
Thomas, we can not be at a loss for heroes
for whom to erect monuments like those
of Nelson and Wellington in London, well
worthy to stand side by side with the one
which now graces our capital OF George
OF all governments on earth, England is
the last to encourage rebellion against law
full authority; and of all men in England,
General Lord Wolseley is the last who
should justify and uphold treason. Ire
land, to-day, has many times the cause to
rebel against England which the South had
in 1861, and when some future Emmett
manifests the transcendent Qualities which
scintillate and sparkle in the Irish chf-r-
acter, and some enthusiastic American
applauds him, and awards HIM national
honors, then will General WolseleY, or his
successor in office, understand the feelings
OF us in America, who, though silent,
watch the worlds progress toward the con-
clusion in which truth and justice must
stand triumphant over treachery and
wrong.
When the time comes to award monu-
ments for service in the civil war the
American people will be fully prepared to
select the subjects without hint or advice
from abroad.